829 Naval Air Squadron

Military experience

Lt Cdr Steve Windebank was born and educated in Northern Ireland and joined the Royal Navy in 1987 as Direct Entry Aircrew. After qualifying as an ASW Pilot flying the Sea King HAS MK 5, he joined 814 NAS in April 1990 and embarked in HMS Invincible as part of the Carrier Air Group Conducting deployments which included the USA, Caribbean, Mediterranean and Norway.

In 1992 he joined 810 NAS as a Staff Pilot, responsible for Pilot Operational Conversion Training before undertaking the QHI training course at RAF Shawbury. On completion of his training, he returned to RNAS Culdrose as a Helicopter Instructor on 706 NAS, teaching Advanced Flying Training and achieving an A2 instructor category during his appointment.

In 1995 he was selected to join the Merlin HM MK1 Integrated Project Team (IPT) where he was loaned as a subject matter expert to a number of industry organisations, responsible for the introduction of the Merlin MK1 Helicopter. Later that year he completed both Squadron Command Exams and the ICSC(M) at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

In 1997 he undertook a 5 month Operational Tour as the SO3 J3 at the Coalition Headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Upon return he underwent Merlin Factory Training at Agusta Westlands prior to joining 700M NAS (Intensive Flying Trails Unit); responsible for the development of Merlin Operational Capability, deploying worldwide in order to expand the aircrafts operating envelope.

In 2001 he returned to 814 NAS as the Training Officer initially embarking in HMS ARK ROYAL before ending his tour in July 2003, having taken part in Operation Telic in the North Arabian Sea.

Returning to Culdrose, he commenced Fixed Wing Conversion training prior to serving as the Jetstream Instrument Rating Examiner on Heron Flight and 750NAS. 2006 saw a return to the North Arabian Gulf as SO2 N3 Ops to the UK Maritime Component Commander (UKMCC).

Upon return to the UK he joined the Merlin MK 2 integration team prior to joining 824 NAS as the Senior Pilot and Executive Officer and in early 2008 he was assigned to the Merlin Force HQ as the Deputy Force Cdr.

In 2009 he joined NCHQ as the Aviation Manpower Requirements Officer responsible for setting and managing manpower structures, transfers and promotions within the FAA. Selected for promotion to Cdr in 2011, he returned to Culdrose to take up his current role of CO 829 NAS.

When away from work he splits his time between homes in Falmouth and Southsea and, when opportunities arise, his recreational interests involve a variety of hobbies, sports and charity work including golf, skiing, sailing, racket sports, marathon running and volunteer counselling for a well known national Charity.